Multi-mode IC with multiple processing cores

ABSTRACT

An integrated circuit (IC) includes an RF section, a DSP, and a plurality of processors. The RF section and the DSP process an inbound RF signal to produce inbound data and process outbound data to produce an outbound RF signal. In addition, the DSP converts an outbound analog audio signal into an outbound digital audio signal and converts an inbound digital audio signal into an inbound analog audio signal. A first processor converts the inbound data into the inbound digital audio signal and converts the outbound digital audio signal into the outbound data. A second processor performs a user application that includes at least one of generation of the inbound analog audio signal and generation of the outbound analog audio signal and performs an operating system algorithm to coordinate operation of the user application.

This patent application is claiming priority under 35 USC §119 to aprovisionally filed patent application entitled MULTI-MODE IC WITHMULTIPLE PROCESSING CORES, having a provisional filing date of May 29,2007, and a provisional Ser. No. 60/932,056.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to wireless communication systems andmore particularly to integrated circuits of transceivers operatingwithin such systems.

2. Description of Related Art

Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire linedcommunications between wireless and/or wire lined communication devices.Such communication systems range from national and/or internationalcellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-homewireless networks. Each type of communication system is constructed, andhence operates, in accordance with one or more communication standards.For instance, wireless communication systems may operate in accordancewith one or more standards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11,Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, globalsystem for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access(CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems (LMDS),multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), radio frequencyidentification (RFID), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE),General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and/or variations thereof.

Depending on the type of wireless communication system, a wirelesscommunication device, such as a cellular telephone, two-way radio,personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptopcomputer, home entertainment equipment, RFID reader, RFID tag, et ceteracommunicates directly or indirectly with other wireless communicationdevices. For direct communications (also known as point-to-pointcommunications), the participating wireless communication devices tunetheir receivers and transmitters to the same channel or channels (e.g.,one of the plurality of radio frequency (RF) carriers of the wirelesscommunication system or a particular RF frequency for some systems) andcommunicate over that channel(s). For indirect wireless communications,each wireless communication device communicates directly with anassociated base station (e.g., for cellular services) and/or anassociated access point (e.g., for an in-home or in-building wirelessnetwork) via an assigned channel. To complete a communication connectionbetween the wireless communication devices, the associated base stationsand/or associated access points communicate with each other directly,via a system controller, via the public switch telephone network, viathe Internet, and/or via some other wide area network.

For each wireless communication device to participate in wirelesscommunications, it includes a built-in radio transceiver (i.e., receiverand transmitter) or is coupled to an associated radio transceiver (e.g.,a station for in-home and/or in-building wireless communicationnetworks, RF modem, etc.). As is known, the receiver is coupled to anantenna and includes a low noise amplifier, one or more intermediatefrequency stages, a filtering stage, and a data recovery stage. The lownoise amplifier receives inbound RF signals via the antenna andamplifies then. The one or more intermediate frequency stages mix theamplified RF signals with one or more local oscillations to convert theamplified RF signal into baseband signals or intermediate frequency (IF)signals. The filtering stage filters the baseband signals or the IFsignals to attenuate unwanted out of band signals to produce filteredsignals. The data recovery stage recovers raw data from the filteredsignals in accordance with the particular wireless communicationstandard.

As is also known, the transmitter includes a data modulation stage, oneor more intermediate frequency stages, and a power amplifier. The datamodulation stage converts raw data into baseband signals in accordancewith a particular wireless communication standard. The one or moreintermediate frequency stages mix the baseband signals with one or morelocal oscillations to produce RF signals. The power amplifier amplifiesthe RF signals prior to transmission via an antenna.

While transmitters generally include a data modulation stage, one ormore IF stages, and a power amplifier, the particular implementation ofthese elements is dependent upon the data modulation scheme of thestandard being supported by the transceiver. For example, if thebaseband modulation scheme is Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK), thedata modulation stage functions to convert digital words into quadraturemodulation symbols, which have a constant amplitude and varying phases.The IF stage includes a phase locked loop (PLL) that generates anoscillation at a desired RF frequency, which is modulated based on thevarying phases produced by the data modulation stage. The phasemodulated RF signal is then amplified by the power amplifier inaccordance with a transmit power level setting to produce a phasemodulated RF signal.

As another example, if the data modulation scheme is 8-PSK (phase shiftkeying), the data modulation stage functions to convert digital wordsinto symbols having varying amplitudes and varying phases. The IF stageincludes a phase locked loop (PLL) that generates an oscillation at adesired RF frequency, which is modulated based on the varying phasesproduced by the data modulation stage. The phase modulated RF signal isthen amplified by the power amplifier in accordance with the varyingamplitudes to produce a phase and amplitude modulated RF signal.

As yet another example, if the data modulation scheme is x-QAM (16, 64,128, 256 quadrature amplitude modulation), the data modulation stagefunctions to convert digital words into Cartesian coordinate symbols(e.g., having an in-phase signal component and a quadrature signalcomponent). The IF stage includes mixers that mix the in-phase signalcomponent with an in-phase local oscillation and mix the quadraturesignal component with a quadrature local oscillation to produce twomixed signals. The mixed signals are summed together and filtered toproduce an RF signal that is subsequently amplified by a poweramplifier.

As is generally known, transceivers, such as the ones described above,are in the physical (PHY) layer of the communication stack. The otherlayers include medium access control (MAC) layer, network layer,transport layer, session layer, presentation layer, and applicationlayer. For a host communication device to support a wirelesscommunication, it includes firmware to process each of these layers andalso includes firmware to process an operating system and userapplications (e.g., digital camera, email, web browsing, voicerecorder). Such a communication device includes multiple integratedcircuits to support these various functions. For instance, an IC may beused to provide the RF portion of the PHY layer, another IC may be adigital signal processor (DSP) to support the baseband PHY layer andaudio codec functions, yet another IC for supporting the lower layers ofthe communication stack (e.g., MAC, network and transport), while adifferent IC supports the upper layers of the communication stack, theoperating system, and the user applications. Typically, the ICsupporting the upper layers of the communication stack, the operatingsystem, and the user applications is a high speed, high powermicroprocessor to provide a desired level of performance.

In recent technological advancements, a multiple function processingcore of a DSP for the baseband PHY layer and audio codec functions, afirst microprocessor for the lower layers, and a second microprocessorthe upper layers, the operating system, and the user applications hasbeen implemented in a single IC package. While this implementationprovides greater integration, it has relatively high power consumption.

Despite the recent technological advancements discussed above, there isa continued desire for wireless communication devices to supportmultiple standards, for further integration, and for decreased powerconsumption. However, such desires have gone unrealized when it comes toimplementing baseband and RF on the same chip for multiple wirelesscommunication standards with the upper layers of the communicationstack, the operating system and the user applications in a powerefficient IC.

Therefore, a need exists for an integrated circuit (IC) that implementsbaseband and RF of multiple wireless communication standards on the sameIC die with the upper layers of the communication stack, the operatingsystem and the user applications in a power efficient IC.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of operationthat are further described in the following Brief Description of theSeveral Views of the Drawings, the Detailed Description of theInvention, and the claims. Other features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the invention made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication systemin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communicationenvironment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of another wireless communicationenvironment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a communicationdevice in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of acommunication device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an integratedcircuit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an IC inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an IC inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an IC inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an IC inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an IC inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an IC inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an IC inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a communication system10 that includes a plurality of base stations and/or access points 12,16, a plurality of wireless communication devices 18-32 and a networkhardware component 34. Note that the network hardware 34, which may be arouter, switch, bridge, modem, system controller, et cetera provides awide area network connection 42 for the communication system 10. Furthernote that the wireless communication devices 18-32 may be laptop hostcomputers 18 and 26, personal digital assistant hosts 20 and 30,personal computer hosts 24 and 32 and/or cellular telephone hosts 22 and28. The details of the wireless communication devices will be describedin greater detail with reference to one or more of FIGS. 2-23.

Wireless communication devices 22, 23, and 24 are located within anindependent basic service set (IBSS) area and communicate directly(i.e., point to point). In this configuration, these devices 22, 23, and24 may only communicate with each other. To communicate with otherwireless communication devices within the system 10 or to communicateoutside of the system 10, the devices 22, 23, and/or 24 need toaffiliate with one of the base stations or access points 12 or 16.

The base stations or access points 12, 16 are located within basicservice set (BSS) areas 11 and 13, respectively, and are operablycoupled to the network hardware 34 via local area network connections36, 38. Such a connection provides the base station or access point 1216 with connectivity to other devices within the system 10 and providesconnectivity to other networks via the WAN connection 42. To communicatewith the wireless communication devices within its BSS 11 or 13, each ofthe base stations or access points 12-16 has an associated antenna orantenna array. For instance, base station or access point 12 wirelesslycommunicates with wireless communication devices 18 and 20 while basestation or access point 16 wirelessly communicates with wirelesscommunication devices 26-32. Typically, the wireless communicationdevices register with a particular base station or access point 12, 16to receive services from the communication system 10.

Typically, base stations are used for cellular telephone systems (e.g.,advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system formobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), localmulti-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-pointdistribution systems (MMDS), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), high-speed downlink packetaccess (HSDPA), high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA and/or variationsthereof) and like-type systems, while access points are used for in-homeor in-building wireless networks (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, ZigBee,any other type of radio frequency based network protocol and/orvariations thereof). Regardless of the particular type of communicationsystem, each wireless communication device includes a built-in radioand/or is coupled to a radio.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system that includes a communication device 50 associatedwith a cellular network, a wireless local area network (WLAN) and/or awireless personal area network (WPAN) 58. The WLAN network is shown toinclude an access point 54, a local area network (LAN) bus 62, a modem70, a video source 72, an audio source 74, a printer 68, a personalcomputer (PC) 76, a facsimile machine (fax) 64, and a server 66, but mayinclude more or less components than shown. The cellular network isshown to include a base station 56, which may support voicecommunications and/or data communications. Note that the cellularnetwork may include more components than the base station 56. The WPAN58 includes at least one WPAN device 60 that is proximal to thecommunication device 50. Note that the WPAN device 60 may be a Bluetoothheadset, a wireless microphone, a wireless speaker, a wireless display,and/or a wireless data entry unit.

In this embodiment, the communication device 50, which may be one of thecommunication devices 18-32 of FIG. 1 or another type of communicationdevice, includes an integrated circuit (IC) 52 to communication with thecellular network, the WLAN, and/or the WPAN. Such a communication mayinclude voice communications, audio communications, videocommunications, graphics communications, text communications, and/ordata communications (e.g., emails, web browsing, short message services,etc.). For example, the communication device 50 may be receiving anaudio file from the audio source 74 (e.g., a computer storing an MP3file, a radio receiver, a cable set top box, a satellite receiver, a CDplayer, etc.), the server 66, and/or the PC 76 via the access point 54as an inbound RF wireless network (WN) data signal 78. The IC 52processes the inbound RF WN data signal 78 to produce inbound data thatmay be rendered audible by speaker circuitry of the IC 52 and/orcommunication device 50. Alternatively and/or in addition to, the IC 52may convert the inbound data signal from the WLAN to an outbound RF WNdata signal 80 that is provided to the WPAN device 60, which mayreproduce the inbound data for presentation (e.g., render it audible).

As another example, the communication device 50 may be receiving a videofile from the video source 72 (e.g., a computer storing a video file, acable set top box, a satellite receiver, a DVDD player, etc.), theserver 66, and/or the PC 76 via the access point 54 as an inbound RF WNdata signal 78. The IC 52 processes the inbound RF WN data signal 78 toproduce inbound data that may be presented on a display (e.g., speakersand LCD, DLP, or plasma display panel) of the communication device 50.Alternatively and/or in addition to, the IC 52 may convert the inbounddata signal from the WLAN to an outbound RF WN data signal 80 that isprovided to the WPAN device 60, which may reproduce the inbound data forpresentation (e.g., play the video file).

As yet another example, the communication device 50 may record video,voice, and/or audio to produce a recorded file. In this example, the IC52 may convert the recorded file into an outbound RF WN data signal 80that is provided to the WLAN. The access point 54 recovers the recordedfile and provides it to one of the other devices (e.g., PC 76, server66, modem 70) for storage and/or forwarding onto the Internet.

As a further example, the modem 70, the PC 76, the server 66, the fax64, and/or the printer 68 may provide a file to the access point 54 forcommunication to the communication device 50. In this instance, theaccess point 54 converts the file into the inbound WN data signal 78.The IC 52 processes the received the inbound WN data signal 78 torecapture the file, which may be presented on the communication device50 and/or provided to the WPAN device 60.

As yet a further example, the communication device 50 may have agraphics, text, and/or a data file for communication to a component ofthe WLAN. In this example, the IC 52 converts the graphics, text, and/ordata file into the outbound RF WN data signal 80 that is provided to theaccess point 54 and/or to the WPAN 60. In one embodiment, the accesspoint 54 recovers the graphics, text, and/or data file and provides itto the PC 76, the modem 70, the fax 64, the printer 68, and/or theserver 66. Note that the file may include an address that identifieswhich component(s) of the WLAN are to receive the file.

More examples include voice and/or data communications between thecommunication device 50 and the base station 56 in accordance with oneor more cellular communication standards, which includes, but is notlimited to, past, present, and/or future versions of GSM, CDMA, widebandCDMA (WCDMA), EDGE, GPRS, AMPS, and digital AMPS. For instance, the IC52 may process outbound voice signals to produce outbound RF voicesignals 88 and process inbound RF voice signals 84 to produce inboundvoice signals. The IC 52 may facilitate the presentation of the inboundand outbound voice signals on the communication device 50 and/ortransceive them with the WPAN device 60 as the inbound and outbound WNdata signals 78 and 80. Further the IC 52 may process outbound datasignals to produce outbound RF data signals 86 and process inbound RFdata signals 82 to produce inbound data signals. The IC 52 mayfacilitate the presentation of the inbound and outbound data signals onthe communication device 50 and/or transceive them with the WPAN device60 as the inbound and outbound WN data signals 78 and 80.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communicationenvironment that includes a communication device 50 communicating withone or more of a wireline non-real-time device 90, a wireline real-timedevice 92, a wireline non-real-time and/or real-time device 94, a basestation 102, a wireless non-real-time device 96, a wireless real-timedevice 98, and a wireless non-real-time and/or real-time device 100. Thecommunication device 50, which may be a personal computer, laptopcomputer, personal entertainment device, cellular telephone, personaldigital assistant, a game console, a game controller, and/or any othertype of device that communicates real-time and/or non-real-time signals,may be coupled to one or more of the wireline non-real-time device 90,the wireline real-time device 92, and the wireline non-real-time and/orreal-time device 94 via a wireless connection 108. The wirelessconnection 108 may be an Ethernet connection, a universal serial bus(USB) connection, a parallel connection (e.g., RS232), a serialconnection, a fire-wire connection, a digital subscriber loop (DSL)connection, and/or any other type of connection for conveying data.

The communication device 50 communicates RF non-real-time data 104and/or RF real-time data 106 with one or more of the base station 102,the wireless non-real-time device 96, the wireless real-time device 98,and the wireless non-real-time and/or real-time device 100 via one ormore channels in a frequency band (fb_(A)) that is designated forwireless communications. For example, the frequency band may be 900 MHz,1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, any ISM (industrial,scientific, and medical) frequency bands, and/or any other unlicensedfrequency band in the United States and/or other countries. As aparticular example, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA)utilizes an uplink frequency band of 1920-1980 MHz and a downlinkfrequency band of 2110-2170 MHz. As another particular example, EDGE,GSM and GPRS utilize an uplink transmission frequency band of 890-915MHz and a downlink transmission band of 935-960 MHz. As yet anotherparticular example, IEEE 802.11(g) utilizes a frequency band of 2.4 GHzfrequency band.

The wireless real-time device 98 and the wireline real-time device 92communicate real-time data that, if interrupted, would result in anoticeable adverse affect. For example, real-time data may include, butis not limited to, voice data, audio data, and/or streaming video data.Note that each of the real-time devices 98 and 92 may be a personalcomputer, laptop computer, personal digital assistant, a cellulartelephone, a cable set-top box, a satellite set-top box, a game console,a wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver, a Bluetoothtransceiver, a frequency modulation (FM) tuner, a broadcast televisiontuner, a digital camcorder, and/or any other device that has a wirelineand/or wireless interface for conveying real-time data with anotherdevice.

The wireless non-real-time device 96 and the wireline non-real-timedevice 90 communicate non-real-time data that, if interrupted, would notgenerally result in a noticeable adverse affect. For example,non-real-time data may include, but is not limited to, text messages,still video images, graphics, control data, emails, and/or web browsing.Note that each of the non-real-time devices 96 and 90 may be a personalcomputer, laptop computer, personal digital assistant, a cellulartelephone, a cable set-top box, a satellite set-top box, a game console,a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, a wireless local areanetwork (WLAN) transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, a frequencymodulation (FM) tuner, a broadcast television tuner, a digitalcamcorder, and/or any other device that has a wireline and/or wirelessinterface for conveying real-time data with another device.

Depending on the real-time and non-real-time devices coupled to thecommunication unit 50, the communication unit 50 may participate incellular voice communications, cellular data communications, videocapture, video playback, audio capture, audio playback, image capture,image playback, voice over internet protocol (i.e., voice over IP),sending and/or receiving emails, web browsing, playing video gameslocally, playing video games via the internet, word processinggeneration and/or editing, spreadsheet generation and/or editing,database generation and/or editing, one-to-many communications, viewingbroadcast television, receiving broadcast radio, cable broadcasts,and/or satellite broadcasts.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of another wireless communicationenvironment that includes a communication device 50 communicating withone or more of the wireline non-real-time device 90, the wirelinereal-time device 92, the wireline non-real-time and/or real-time device94, a wireless data device 110, a data base station 112, a voice basestation 114, and a wireless voice device 116. The communication device50, which may be a personal computer, laptop computer, personalentertainment device, cellular telephone, personal digital assistant, agame console, a game controller, and/or any other type of device thatcommunicates data and/or voice signals, may be coupled to one or more ofthe wireline non-real-time device 90, the wireline real-time device 92,and the wireline non-real-time and/or real-time device 94 via thewireless connection 108.

The communication device 50 communicates RF data 118 with the datadevice 110 and/or the data base station 112 via one or more channels ina first frequency band (fb₁) that is designated for wirelesscommunications. For example, the first frequency band may be 900 MHz,1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, any ISM (industrial,scientific, and medical) frequency bands, and/or any other unlicensedfrequency band in the United States and/or other countries.

The communication device 50 communicates RF voice 120 with the voicedevice 116 and/or the voice base station 114 via one or more channels ina second frequency band (fb₂) that is designated for wirelesscommunications. For example, the second frequency band may be 900 MHz,1800 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, any ISM (industrial,scientific, and medical) frequency bands, and/or any other unlicensedfrequency band in the United States and/or other countries. In aparticular example, the first frequency band may be 900 MHz for EDGEdata transmissions while the second frequency band may the 1900 MHz and2100 MHz for WCDMA voice transmissions.

The voice device 114 and the voice base station 116 communicate voicesignals that, if interrupted, would result in a noticeable adverseaffect (e.g., a disruption in a communication). For example, the voicesignals may include, but is not limited to, digitized voice signals,digitized audio data, and/or streaming video data. Note that the voicedevice 38 may be a personal computer, laptop computer, personal digitalassistant, a cellular telephone, a game console, a wireless local areanetwork (WLAN) transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, a frequencymodulation (FM) tuner, a broadcast television tuner, a digitalcamcorder, and/or any other device that has a wireless interface forconveying voice signals with another device.

The data device 110 and the data base station 112 communicate data that,if interrupted, would not generally result in a noticeable adverseaffect. For example, the data may include, but is not limited to, textmessages, still video images, graphics, control data, emails, and/or webbrowsing. Note that the data device 110 may be a personal computer,laptop computer, personal digital assistant, a cellular telephone, acable set-top box, a satellite set-top box, a game console, a globalpositioning satellite (GPS) receiver, a wireless local area network(WLAN) transceiver, a Bluetooth transceiver, a frequency modulation (FM)tuner, a broadcast television tuner, a digital camcorder, and/or anyother device that has a wireless interface for conveying data withanother device.

Depending on the devices coupled to the communication unit 50, thecommunication unit 50 may participate in cellular voice communications,cellular data communications, video capture, video playback, audiocapture, audio playback, image capture, image playback, voice overinternet protocol (i.e., voice over IP), sending and/or receivingemails, web browsing, playing video games locally, playing video gamesvia the internet, word processing generation and/or editing, spreadsheetgeneration and/or editing, database generation and/or editing,one-to-many communications, viewing broadcast television, receivingbroadcast radio, cable broadcasts, and/or satellite broadcasts.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a communicationdevice 50 that includes an IC (integrated circuit) 130, an antennainterface 140, memory 136, a display 142, a keypad and/or key board 134,at least one microphone 132, at least one speaker 144, and a wirelineport 138. The memory 136 may be NAND flash, NOR flash, SDRAM, and/orSRAM for storing data and/or instructions to facilitate communicationsof real-time and non-real-time data via the wireline port 138 and/or viathe antenna interface 140. In addition, or in the alternative, thememory 136 may store video files, audio files, and/or image files forsubsequent wireline or wireless transmission, for subsequent display,for file transfer, and/or for subsequent editing. Accordingly, when thecommunication device supports storing, displaying, transferring, and/orediting of audio, video, and/or image files, the memory 136 wouldfurther store algorithms to support such storing, displaying, and/orediting. For example, the algorithms may include, but is not limited to,file transfer algorithm, video compression algorithm, videodecompression algorithm, audio compression algorithm, audiodecompression algorithm, image compression algorithm, and/or imagedecompression algorithm, such as MPEG (motion picture expert group)encoding, MPEG decoding, JPEG (joint picture expert group) encoding,JPEG decoding, MP3 encoding, and MP3 decoding.

For outgoing voice communications, the at least one microphone 132receives an audible voice signal, amplifies it, and provide theamplified voice signal to the IC 130. The IC 130 processes the amplifiedvoice signal into a digitized voice signal using one or more audioprocessing schemes (e.g., pulse code modulation, audio compression,etc.). The IC 130 may transmit the digitized voice signal via thewireless port 138 to the wireline real-time device 92 and/or to thewireline non-real-time and/or real-time device 94. In addition to, or inthe alternative, the IC 130 may transmit the digitized voice signal asRF real-time data 106 to the wireless real-time device 98, and/or to thewireless non-real-time and/or real-time device 100 via the antennainterface 140.

For outgoing real-time audio and/or video communications, the IC 130retrieves an audio and/or video file from the memory 136. The IC 130 maydecompress the retrieved audio and/or video file into digitizedstreaming audio and/or video. The IC 130 may transmit the digitizedstreaming audio and/or video via the wireless port 138 to the wirelinereal-time device 92 and/or to the wireline non-real-time and/orreal-time device 94. In addition to, or in the alternative, the IC 130may transmit the digitized streaming audio and/or video as RF real-timedata 106 to the wireless real-time device 98, and/or to the wirelessnon-real-time and/or real-time device 100 via the antenna interface 140.Note that the IC 130 may mix a digitized voice signal with a digitizedstreaming audio and/or video to produce a mixed digitized signal thatmay be transmitted via the wireline port 138 and/or via the antennainterface 140.

In a playback mode of the communication device 50, the IC 130 retrievesan audio and/or video file from the memory 136. The IC 130 maydecompress the retrieved audio and/or video file into digitizedstreaming audio and/or video. The IC 130 may convert an audio portion ofthe digitized streaming audio and/or video into analog audio signalsthat are provided to the at least one speaker 144. In addition, the IC130 may convert a video portion of the digitized streaming audio and/orvideo into analog or digital video signals that are provided to thedisplay 142, which may be a liquid crystal (LCD) display, a plasmadisplay, a digital light project (DLP) display, and/or any other type ofportable video display.

For incoming RF voice communications, the antenna interface 140receives, via an antenna, inbound RF real-time data 106 (e.g., inboundRF voice signals) and provides them to the IC 130. The IC 130 processesthe inbound RF voice signals into digitized voice signals. The IC 130may transmit the digitized voice signals via the wireless port 138 tothe wireline real-time device 92 and/or to the wireline non-real-timeand/or real-time device 94. In addition to, or in the alternative, theIC 130 may convert the digitized voice signals into an analog voicesignals and provide the analog voice signals to the speaker 144.

The IC 130 may receive digitized voice-audio-&/or-video signals from thewireline connection 108 via the wireless port 138 or may receive RFsignals via the antenna interface 140, where the IC 130 recovers thedigitized voice-audio-&/or-video signals from the RF signals. The IC 130may then compress the received digitized voice-audio-&/or-video signalsto produce voice-audio-&/or-video files and store the files in memory136. In the alternative, or in addition to, the IC 130 may convert thedigitized voice-audio-&/or-video signals into analogvoice-audio-&/or-video signals and provide them to the speaker 144and/or to the display 142.

For outgoing non-real-time data communications, the keypad/keyboard 134(which may be a keypad, keyboard, touch screen, voice activated datainput, and/or any other mechanism for inputted data) provides inputteddata (e.g., emails, text messages, web browsing commands, etc.) to theIC 130. The IC 130 converts the inputted data into a data symbol streamusing one or more data modulation schemes (e.g., QPSK, 8-PSK, etc.). TheIC 130 converts the data symbol stream into RF non-real-time datasignals 104 that are provided to the antenna interface 140 forsubsequent transmission via the antenna. In addition to, or in thealternative, the IC 130 may provide the inputted data to the display142. As another alternative, the IC 130 may provide the inputted data tothe wireline port 138 for transmission to the wireline non-real-timedata device 90 and/or the non-real-time and/or real-time device 94.

For incoming non-real-time communications (e.g., text messaging, imagetransfer, emails, web browsing), the antenna interface 140 receives, viaan antenna, inbound RF non-real-time data signals 104 (e.g., inbound RFdata signals) and provides them to the IC 130. The IC 130 processes theinbound RF data signals into data signals. The IC 130 may transmit thedata signals via the wireless port 138 to the wireline non-real-timedevice 90 and/or to the wireline non-real-time and/or real-time device94. In addition to, or in the alternative, the IC 130 may convert thedata signals into analog data signals and provide the analog datasignals to an analog input of the display 142 or the IC 130 may providethe data signals to a digital input of the display 142.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of acommunication device 50 that includes an IC (integrated circuit) 1500, afirst antenna interface 152, a second antenna interface 154, memory 136,the display 142, the keypad and/or key board 134, the at least onemicrophone 132, the at least one speaker 144, and the wireline port 138.The memory 136 may be NAND flash, NOR flash, SDRAM, and/or SRAM forstoring data and/or instructions to facilitate communications ofreal-time and non-real-time data via the wireline port 138 and/or viathe antenna interfaces 152 and/or 154. In addition, or in thealternative, the memory 136 may store video files, audio files, and/orimage files for subsequent wireline or wireless transmission, forsubsequent display, for file transfer, and/or for subsequent editing.Accordingly, when the communication device 50 supports storing,displaying, transferring, and/or editing of audio, video, and/or imagefiles, the memory 136 would further store algorithms to support suchstoring, displaying, and/or editing. For example, the algorithms mayinclude, but are not limited to, file transfer algorithm, videocompression algorithm, video decompression algorithm, audio compressionalgorithm, audio decompression algorithm, image compression algorithm,and/or image decompression algorithm, such as MPEG (motion pictureexpert group) encoding, MPEG decoding, JPEG (joint picture expert group)encoding, JPEG decoding, MP3 encoding, and MP3 decoding.

For outgoing voice communications, the at least one microphone 132receives an audible voice signal, amplifies it, and provide theamplified voice signal to the IC 150. The IC 150 processes the amplifiedvoice signal into a digitized voice signal using one or more audioprocessing schemes (e.g., pulse code modulation, audio compression,etc.). The IC 150 may transmit the digitized voice signal via thewireless port 138 to the wireline real-time device 92 and/or to thewireline non-real-time and/or real-time device 94. In addition to, or inthe alternative, the IC 150 may transmit the digitized voice signal asRF real-time data 106 to the wireless real-time device 98, and/or to thewireless non-real-time and/or real-time device 100 via the antennainterface 152 using a first frequency band (fb₁).

For outgoing real-time audio and/or video communications, the IC 150retrieves an audio and/or video file from the memory 136. The IC 150 maydecompress the retrieved audio and/or video file into digitizedstreaming audio and/or video. The IC 150 may transmit the digitizedstreaming audio and/or video via the wireless port 138 to the wirelinereal-time device 92 and/or to the wireline non-real-time and/orreal-time device 94. In addition to, or in the alternative, the IC 150may transmit the digitized streaming audio and/or video as RF real-timedata 106 to the wireless real-time device 98, and/or to the wirelessnon-real-time and/or real-time device 10 via the antenna interface 152using the first frequency band (fb₁). Note that the IC 150 may mix adigitized voice signal with a digitized streaming audio and/or video toproduce a mixed digitized signal that may be transmitted via thewireline port 138 and/or via the antenna interface 152.

In a playback mode of the communication device 50, the IC 150 retrievesan audio and/or video file from the memory 136. The IC 150 maydecompress the retrieved audio and/or video file into digitizedstreaming audio and/or video. The IC 150 may convert an audio portion ofthe digitized streaming audio and/or video into analog audio signalsthat are provided to the at least one speaker 144. In addition, the IC150 may convert a video portion of the digitized streaming audio and/orvideo into analog or digital video signals that are provided to thedisplay 142, which may be a liquid crystal (LCD) display, a plasmadisplay, a digital light project (DLP) display, and/or any other type ofportable video display.

For incoming RF voice communications, the antenna interface 152receives, via an antenna within the first frequency band, inbound RFreal-time data 106 (e.g., inbound RF voice signals) and provides them tothe IC 150. The IC 150 processes the inbound RF voice signals intodigitized voice signals. The IC 150 may transmit the digitized voicesignals via the wireless port 138 to the wireline real-time device 92and/or to the wireline non-real-time and/or real-time device 94. Inaddition to, or in the alternative, the IC 150 may convert the digitizedvoice signals into an analog voice signals and provide the analog voicesignals to the speaker 144.

The IC 150 may receive digitized voice-audio-&/or-video signals from thewireline connection 108 via the wireless port 138 or may receive RFsignals via the antenna interface 152, where the IC 150 recovers thedigitized voice-audio-&/or-video signals from the RF signals. The IC 150may then compress the received digitized voice-audio-&/or-video signalsto produce voice-audio-&/or-video files and store the files in memory136. In the alternative, or in addition to, the IC 150 may convert thedigitized voice-audio-&/or-video signals into analogvoice-audio-&/or-video signals and provide them to the speaker 144and/or to the display 142.

For outgoing non-real-time data communications, the keypad/keyboard 134provides inputted data (e.g., emails, text messages, web browsingcommands, etc.) to the IC 150. The IC 150 converts the inputted datainto a data symbol stream using one or more data modulation schemes(e.g., QPSK, 8-PSK, etc.). The IC 150 converts the data symbol streaminto RF non-real-time data signals 104 that are provided to the antennainterface 154 for subsequent transmission via an antenna in a secondfrequency band (fb₂). In addition to, or in the alternative, the IC 150may provide the inputted data to the display 142. As anotheralternative, the IC 150 may provide the inputted data to the wirelineport 138 for transmission to the wireline non-real-time data device 90and/or the non-real-time and/or real-time device 94.

For incoming non-real-time communications (e.g., text messaging, imagetransfer, emails, web browsing), the antenna interface 154 receives, viaan antenna within the second frequency band, inbound RF non-real-timedata signals 104 (e.g., inbound RF data signals) and provides them tothe IC 150. The IC 150 processes the inbound RF data signals into datasignals. The IC 150 may transmit the data signals via the wireless port138 to the wireline non-real-time device 90 and/or to the wirelinenon-real-time and/or real-time device 94. In addition to, or in thealternative, the IC 150 may convert the data signals into analog datasignals and provide the analog data signals to an analog input of thedisplay 142 or the IC 150 may provide the data signals to a digitalinput of the display 142.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an integratedcircuit (IC) 52 that includes a voice baseband (BB) processing module180, a data BB processing module 182, a wireless network BB processingmodule 184, an interface module 186, and a radio frequency (RF) section190. The BB processing modules 180-184 may be separate processingmodules and/or shared processing modules, where a processing module maybe a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices. Sucha processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digitalsignal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, fieldprogrammable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logiccircuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device thatmanipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of thecircuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module(s) mayhave an associated memory and/or memory element, which may be a singlememory device, a plurality of memory devices, and/or embedded circuitryof the processing module(s). Such a memory device may be a read-onlymemory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory,static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or anydevice that stores digital information. Note that when the processingmodule(s) implements one or more of its functions via a state machine,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memoryand/or memory element storing the corresponding operational instructionsmay be embedded within, or external to, the circuitry comprising thestate machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry. Further note that, the memory element stores, and theprocessing module(s) executes, hard coded and/or operationalinstructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/orfunctions illustrated in FIGS. 2-23.

In an embodiment, the voice baseband processing module 180 is coupled toconvert an outbound voice signal 192 into an outbound voice symbolstream 194 and to convert an inbound voice symbol stream 196 into aninbound voice signal 198 in accordance with a cellular voice protocol(e.g., past, present, or future versions of GSM, AMPS, CDMA, WCDMA,etc.). The data baseband processing module 182 is coupled to convertoutbound data 200 into an outbound data symbol stream 202 and to convertan inbound data symbol stream 204 into inbound data 206 in accordancewith a cellular data protocol (e.g., past, present, or future versionsof EDGE, GPRS, HSDPA, HSUPA, etc.).

The wireless network baseband processing module 184 is coupled toconvert outbound wireless network data 208 into an outbound wirelessnetwork data symbol stream 210 and to convert an inbound wirelessnetwork data symbol stream 210 into inbound wireless network data 212 inaccordance with a wireless network protocol (e.g., past, present, orfuture versions of Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, ZIGBEE, RFID, etc.). In oneembodiment, the wireless network baseband processing module 184 convertsthe outbound wireless network data 208 into the outbound wirelessnetwork data symbol stream 210 and converts the inbound wireless networkdata symbol stream 212 into the inbound wireless network data 214 inaccordance with a wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol. Inanother embodiment, the wireless network baseband processing module 184converts the outbound wireless network data 208 into the outboundwireless network data symbol stream 210 and converts the inboundwireless network data symbol stream 212 into the inbound wirelessnetwork data 214 in accordance with a wireless personal area network(WPAN), a near field communication protocol, and/or a far fieldcommunication protocol.

The interface module 186, which may be implemented as described inco-pending patent application entitled VOICE/DATA/RF INTEGRATED CIRCUIT,having a filing date of Dec. 19, 2006, and a Ser. No. of 11/641,999,provides coupling between the baseband processing modules 180-184 andthe RF section 190. For instance, the interface module 186 conveys theinbound voice symbol stream 196 and the outbound voice symbol stream 194between the voice baseband processing module 180 and the RF section 190.In addition, the interface module 186 conveys the inbound data symbolstream 204 and the outbound data symbol stream 202 between the databaseband processing module 182 and the RF section 190. Further, theinterface module 186 conveys the inbound wireless network data symbolstream 212 and the outbound wireless network data symbol stream 210between the wireless network baseband processing module 184 and the RFsection 190.

The RF section 190 is coupled to convert an inbound RF voice signal 84into the inbound voice symbol stream 196 and to convert the outboundvoice symbol stream 194 into an outbound RF voice signal 88 inaccordance with the cellular voice protocol. The RF section 190 is alsocoupled to convert an inbound RF data signal 82 into the inbound datasymbol stream 204 and to convert the outbound data symbol stream 202into an outbound RF data signal 86 in accordance with the cellular dataprotocol. The RF section 190 is further coupled to convert an inbound RFwireless network data signal 78 into the inbound wireless network datasymbol stream 212 and to convert the outbound wireless network datasymbol stream 210 into an outbound RF wireless network data signal 80 inaccordance with the wireless network protocol.

In various uses of the IC 52, the voice baseband processing module 180,the data baseband processing module 182, the wireless network basebandprocessing module 184, and the RF section 190 may perform one or moreof: converting the inbound RF voice signal 84 into an outbound wirelesspersonal area network (WPAN) RF voice signal 80; converting the inboundRF voice signal 84 into an outbound wireless local area network (WLAN)RF voice signal 80; converting the inbound RF voice signal 84 into aninbound analog voice signal 106; converting the inbound RF data signal82 into an outbound WPAN RF data signal 80; converting the inbound RFdata signal 82 into an outbound WLAN RF data signal 80; converting theinbound RF data signal 82 into an inbound data display signal 114;converting an outbound RF WPAN signal 80 into an outbound RF voicesignal 88; and converting an outbound RF WPAN signal 80 into an outboundRF WLAN signal 80.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an IC 130 thatincludes a digital signal processor (DSP) 220, the interface module 222,and the RF section 224. The DSP 220 may be programmed to include a voicebaseband processing module 228 and a data baseband processing module226.

The voice baseband processing module 228 converts an outbound voicesignal 242 into an outbound voice symbol stream 244 in accordance withone or more existing wireless communication standards, new wirelesscommunication standards, modifications thereof, and/or extensionsthereof (e.g., GSM, AMPS, digital AMPS, CDMA, etc.). The voice basebandprocessing module 228 may perform one or more of scrambling, encoding,constellation mapping, modulation, frequency spreading, frequencyhopping, beamforming, space-time-block encoding, space-frequency-blockencoding, and/or digital baseband to IF conversion to convert theoutbound voice signal 242 into the outbound voice symbol stream 244.Depending on the desired formatting of the outbound voice symbol stream244, the voice baseband processing module 228 may generate the outboundvoice symbol stream 244 as Cartesian coordinates (e.g., having anin-phase signal component and a quadrature signal component to representa symbol), as Polar or hybrid coordinates (e.g., having a phasecomponent and an amplitude component to represent a symbol). Theinterface module 222 conveys the outbound voice symbol stream 244 to theRF section 224 when the IC 130 is in a voice mode.

The RF section 224 converts the outbound voice symbol stream 244 into anoutbound RF voice signal 246 in accordance with the one or more existingwireless communication standards, new wireless communication standards,modifications thereof, and/or extensions thereof (e.g., GSM, AMPS,digital AMPS, CDMA, etc.). In one embodiment, the RF section 224receives the outbound voice symbol stream 244 as Cartesian coordinates.In this embodiment, the RF section 224 mixes the in-phase components ofthe outbound voice symbol stream 244 with an in-phase local oscillationto produce a first mixed signal and mixes the quadrature components ofthe outbound voice symbol stream 244 with a quadrature local oscillationto produce a second mixed signal. The RF section 224 combines the firstand second mixed signals to produce an up-converted voice signal. The RFsection 224 then amplifies the up-converted voice signal to produce theoutbound RF voice signal 246, which it provides to the antenna interface140. Note that further power amplification may occur between the outputof the RF section 224 and the input of the antenna interface 140.

In other embodiments, the RF section 224 receives the outbound voicesymbol stream 244 as Polar or hybrid coordinates. In these embodiments,the RF section 224 modulates a local oscillator based on phaseinformation of the outbound voice symbol stream 244 to produce a phasemodulated RF signal. The RF section 224 then amplifies the phasemodulated RF signal in accordance with amplitude information of theoutbound voice symbol stream 244 to produce the outbound RF voice signal246. Alternatively, the RF section 224 may amplify the phase modulatedRF signal in accordance with a power level setting to produce theoutbound RF voice signal 246.

For incoming voice signals, the RF section 224 converts the inbound RFvoice signal 248 into an inbound voice symbol stream 250. In oneembodiment, the RF section 224 extracts Cartesian coordinates from theinbound RF voice signal 248 to produce the inbound voice symbol stream250. In another embodiment, the RF section 224 extracts Polarcoordinates from the inbound RF voice signal 248 to produce the inboundvoice symbol stream 250. In yet another embodiment, the RF section 224extracts hybrid coordinates from the inbound RF voice signal 248 toproduce the inbound voice symbol stream 250. The interface module 222provides the inbound voice symbol stream 250 to the voice basebandprocessing module 228 when the IC 130 is in the voice mode.

The voice baseband processing module 228 converts the inbound voicesymbol stream 250 into an inbound voice signal 252. The voice basebandprocessing module 228 may perform one or more of descrambling, decoding,constellation demapping, modulation, frequency spreading decoding,frequency hopping decoding, beamforming decoding, space-time-blockdecoding, space-frequency-block decoding, and/or IF to digital basebandconversion to convert the inbound voice symbol stream 250 into theinbound voice signal 252.

For an outgoing data communication (e.g., email, text message, webbrowsing, and/or non-real-time data), the data baseband processingmodule 226 converts outbound data 230 into an outbound data symbolstream 232 in accordance with one or more existing wirelesscommunication standards, new wireless communication standards,modifications thereof, and/or extensions thereof (e.g., EDGE, GPRS,HSDPA, HSUPA, etc.). The data baseband processing module 226 may performone or more of scrambling, encoding, constellation mapping, modulation,frequency spreading, frequency hopping, beamforming, space-time-blockencoding, space-frequency-block encoding, and/or digital baseband to IFconversion to convert the outbound data 230 into the outbound datasymbol stream 232. Depending on the desired formatting of the outbounddata symbol stream 232, the data baseband processing module 226 maygenerate the outbound data symbol stream 232 as Cartesian coordinates,as Polar coordinates, or as hybrid coordinates.

The interface module 222 conveys the outbound data symbol stream 232 tothe RF section 224 when the IC 130 is in a data mode. The data mode maybe activated by the user of the communication device 50 by initiating atext message, by receiving a text message, by initiating a web browserfunction, by receiving a web browser response, by initiating a data filetransfer, and/or by another data activation selection mechanism.

The RF section 224 converts the outbound data symbol stream 232 into anoutbound RF data signal 234 in accordance with the one or more existingwireless communication standards, new wireless communication standards,modifications thereof, and/or extensions thereof (e.g., EDGE, GPRS,etc.). In one embodiment, the RF section 224 receives the outbound datasymbol stream 232 as Cartesian coordinates. In this embodiment, the RFsection 224 mixes the in-phase components of the outbound data symbolstream 232 with an in-phase local oscillation to produce a first mixedsignal and mixes the quadrature components of the outbound data symbolstream 232 with a quadrature local oscillation to produce a second mixedsignal. The RF section 224 combines the first and second mixed signalsto produce an up-converted data signal. The RF section 224 thenamplifies the up-converted data signal to produce the outbound RF datasignal 234, which it provides to the antenna interface 140. Note thatfurther power amplification may occur between the output of the RFsection 224 and the input of the antenna interface 140.

In other embodiments, the RF section 224 receives the outbound datasymbol stream 232 as Polar or hybrid coordinates. In these embodiments,the RF section 224 modulates a local oscillator based on phaseinformation of the outbound data symbol stream 232 to produce a phasemodulated RF signal. The RF section 224 then amplifies the phasemodulated RF signal in accordance with amplitude information of theoutbound data symbol stream 232 to produce the outbound RF data signal234. Alternatively, the RF section 224 may amplify the phase modulatedRF signal in accordance with a power level setting to produce theoutbound RF data signal 234.

For incoming data communications, the RF section 224 converts theinbound RF data signal 236 into an inbound data symbol stream 238. Inone embodiment, the RF section 224 extracts Cartesian coordinates fromthe inbound RF data signal 236 to produce the inbound data symbol stream238. In another embodiment, the RF section 224 extracts Polarcoordinates from the inbound RF data signal 236 to produce the inbounddata symbol stream 238. In yet another embodiment, the RF section 224extracts hybrid coordinates from the inbound RF data signal 236 toproduce the inbound data symbol stream 238. The interface module 222provides the inbound data symbol stream 238 to the data basebandprocessing module 226 when the IC 130 is in the data mode.

The data baseband processing module 226 converts the inbound data symbolstream 238 into inbound data 240. The data baseband processing module226 may perform one or more of descrambling, decoding, constellationdemapping, modulation, frequency spreading decoding, frequency hoppingdecoding, beamforming decoding, space-time-block decoding,space-frequency-block decoding, and/or IF to digital baseband conversionto convert the inbound data symbol stream 238 into the inbound data 240.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an IC 130that includes the RF section 224, the interface module 222, the DSP 220,the AHB bus matrix 282, the microprocessor core 276, the memoryinterface 278, the data input interface 262, the display interface 262,the video codec 264, the mobile industry processor interface (MIPI)interface 266, an arbitration module 268, a direct memory access (DMA)280, a demultiplexer 284, a security engine 294, a security boot ROM292, an LCD interface 290, a camera interface 288, a 2^(nd) AHB bus 286,a real time clock (RTC) module 298, a general purpose input/output(GPIO) interface 296, a Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter(UART) interface 306, a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) interface 302,and an I2S interface 304. The arbitration module 268 is coupled to theSDIO interface 274, a universal serial bus (USB) interface 270, and agraphics engine 272.

In this embodiment, the arbitration module 268 arbitrates access to theAHB bus matrix 282 between the SDIO interface 274, a universal serialbus (USB) interface 270, and a graphics engine 272. The graphics engine272 is operable to generate two-dimensional and/or three-dimensionalgraphic images for display and/or for transmission as outbound data. Inaddition, the graphics engine 272 may process inbound data to producetwo-dimensional and/or three-dimensional graphic images for displayand/or storage.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an IC 150that includes a digital signal processor (DSP) 310, an interface module312, a data RF section 314, and a voice RF section 316. The DSP 310 maybe programmed to include a voice baseband processing module 320 and adata baseband processing module 318.

The voice baseband processing module 320 converts an outbound voicesignal 334 into an outbound voice symbol stream 336 in accordance withone or more existing wireless communication standards, new wirelesscommunication standards, modifications thereof, and/or extensionsthereof (e.g., WCDMA, etc.) corresponding to a second frequency bandfb₂). The voice baseband processing module 320 may perform one or moreof scrambling, encoding, constellation mapping, modulation, frequencyspreading, frequency hopping, beamforming, space-time-block encoding,space-frequency-block encoding, and/or digital baseband to IF conversionto convert the outbound voice signal 334 into the outbound voice symbolstream 336. Depending on the desired formatting of the outbound voicesymbol stream 336, the voice baseband processing module 320 may generatethe outbound voice symbol stream 336 as Cartesian coordinates (e.g.,having an in-phase signal component and a quadrature signal component torepresent a symbol) and/or as Polar or hybrid coordinates (e.g., havinga phase component and an amplitude component to represent a symbol).

The interface module 312 conveys the outbound voice symbol stream 336 tothe voice RF section 316 when the IC 150 is in a voice mode. The voicemode may be activated by the user of the communication device 50 byinitiating a cellular telephone call, by receiving a cellular telephonecall, by initiating a walkie-talkie type call, by receiving awalkie-talkie type call, by initiating a voice record function, and/orby another voice activation selection mechanism.

The voice RF section 316 converts the outbound voice symbol stream 336into an outbound RF voice signal 338 in accordance with the one or moreexisting wireless communication standards, new wireless communicationstandards, modifications thereof, and/or extensions thereof (e.g.,WCDMA, etc.), where the outbound RF voice signal 338 has a carrierfrequency in the second frequency band (e.g., 1920-1980 MHz). In oneembodiment, the voice RF section 316 receives the outbound voice symbolstream 336 as Cartesian coordinates. In this embodiment, the voice RFsection 316 mixes the in-phase components of the outbound voice symbolstream 336 with an in-phase local oscillation to produce a first mixedsignal and mixes the quadrature components of the outbound voice symbolstream 336 with a quadrature local oscillation to produce a second mixedsignal. The voice RF section 316 combines the first and second mixedsignals to produce an up-converted voice signal. The voice RF section316 then amplifies the up-converted voice signal to produce the outboundRF voice signal 338. Note that further power amplification may occurafter the output of the voice RF section 316.

In other embodiments, the voice RF section 316 receives the outboundvoice symbol stream 336 as Polar or hybrid coordinates. In theseembodiments, the voice RF section 316 modulates a local oscillator basedon phase information of the outbound voice symbol stream 336 to producea phase modulated RF signal. The voice RF section 316 then amplifies thephase modulated RF signal in accordance with amplitude information ofthe outbound voice symbol stream 336 to produce the outbound RF voicesignal 338. Alternatively, the voice RF section 316 may amplify thephase modulated RF signal in accordance with a power level setting toproduce the outbound RF voice signal 338.

For incoming voice signals, the voice RF section 316 converts theinbound RF voice signal 340, which has a carrier frequency in the secondfrequency band (e.g., 2110-2170 MHz) into an inbound voice symbol stream342. In one embodiment, the voice RF section 316 extracts Cartesiancoordinates from the inbound RF voice signal 340 to produce the inboundvoice symbol stream 342. In another embodiment, the voice RF section 316extracts Polar coordinates from the inbound RF voice signal 340 toproduce the inbound voice symbol stream 342. In yet another embodiment,the voice RF section 316 extracts hybrid coordinates from the inbound RFvoice signal 340 to produce the inbound voice symbol stream 342. Theinterface module 312 provides the inbound voice symbol stream 342 to thevoice baseband processing module 320 when the IC 150 is in the voicemode.

The voice baseband processing module 320 converts the inbound voicesymbol stream 342 into an inbound voice signal 344. The voice basebandprocessing module 320 may perform one or more of descrambling, decoding,constellation demapping, modulation, frequency spreading decoding,frequency hopping decoding, beamforming decoding, space-time-blockdecoding, space-frequency-block decoding, and/or IF to digital basebandconversion to convert the inbound voice symbol stream 342 into theinbound voice signal 344.

For an outgoing data communication (e.g., email, text message, webbrowsing, and/or non-real-time data), the data baseband processingmodule 318 converts outbound data 322 into an outbound data symbolstream 324 in accordance with one or more existing wirelesscommunication standards, new wireless communication standards,modifications thereof, and/or extensions thereof (e.g., EDGE, GPRS,etc.) corresponding to a first frequency band (fb₁). The data basebandprocessing module 318 may perform one or more of scrambling, encoding,constellation mapping, modulation, frequency spreading, frequencyhopping, beamforming, space-time-block encoding, space-frequency-blockencoding, and/or digital baseband to IF conversion to convert theoutbound data 322 into the outbound data symbol stream 324. Depending onthe desired formatting of the outbound data symbol stream 324, the databaseband processing module 318 may generate the outbound data symbolstream 324 as Cartesian coordinates, as Polar coordinates, or as hybridcoordinates.

The interface module 312 conveys the outbound data symbol stream 324 tothe data RF section 314 when the IC 150 is in a data mode. The data modemay be activated by the user of the communication device 30 byinitiating a text message, by receiving a text message, by initiating aweb browser function, by receiving a web browser response, by initiatinga data file transfer, and/or by another data activation selectionmechanism.

The data RF section 314 converts the outbound data symbol stream 324into an outbound RF data signal 326 having a carrier frequency in thefirst frequency band (e.g., 890-915 MHz) in accordance with the one ormore existing wireless communication standards, new wirelesscommunication standards, modifications thereof, and/or extensionsthereof (e.g., EDGE, GPRS, etc.). In one embodiment, the data RF section314 receives the outbound data symbol stream 324 as Cartesiancoordinates. In this embodiment, the data RF section 314 mixes thein-phase components of the outbound data symbol stream 324 with anin-phase local oscillation to produce a first mixed signal and mixes thequadrature components of the outbound data symbol stream 324 with aquadrature local oscillation to produce a second mixed signal. The dataRF section 314 combines the first and second mixed signals to produce anup-converted data signal. The data RF section 236 then amplifies theup-converted data signal to produce the outbound RF data signal 326.Note that further power amplification may occur after the output of thedata RF section 314.

In other embodiments, the data RF section 314 receives the outbound datasymbol stream 324 as Polar or hybrid coordinates. In these embodiments,the data RF section 314 modulates a local oscillator based on phaseinformation of the outbound data symbol stream 324 to produce a phasemodulated RF signal. The data RF section 314 then amplifies the phasemodulated RF signal in accordance with amplitude information of theoutbound data symbol stream 324 to produce the outbound RF data signal326. Alternatively, the data RF section 314 may amplify the phasemodulated RF signal in accordance with a power level setting to producethe outbound RF data signal 326.

For incoming data communications, the data RF section 314 converts theinbound RF data signal 328, which has a carrier frequency in the firstfrequency band (e.g., 890-915 MHz) into an inbound data symbol stream330. In one embodiment, the data RF section 314 extracts Cartesiancoordinates from the inbound RF data signal 328 to produce the inbounddata symbol stream 330. In another embodiment, the data RF section 314extracts Polar coordinates from the inbound RF data signal 328 toproduce the inbound data symbol stream 330. In yet another embodiment,the data RF section 314 extracts hybrid coordinates from the inbound RFdata signal 328 to produce the inbound data symbol stream 330. Theinterface module 312 provides the inbound data symbol stream 330 to thedata baseband processing module 318 when the IC 150 is in the data mode.

The data baseband processing module 318 converts the inbound data symbolstream 330 into inbound data 332. The data baseband processing module318 may perform one or more of descrambling, decoding, constellationdemapping, modulation, frequency spreading decoding, frequency hoppingdecoding, beamforming decoding, space-time-block decoding,space-frequency-block decoding, and/or IF to digital baseband conversionto convert the inbound data symbol stream 330 into the inbound data 332.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an IC 150that includes the data RF section 314, the voice RF section 316, theinterface module 312, the voice baseband processing module 320, the databaseband processing module 318, the AHB bus matrix 282, themicroprocessor core 276, the memory interface 278, and one or more of aplurality of interface modules. The plurality of interface modulesincludes the mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) interface 266,the universal serial bus (USB) interface 270, the secure digitalinput/output (SDIO) interface 274, the I2S interface 304, the UniversalAsynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART) interface 306, the SerialPeripheral Interface (SPI) interface 302, the power management (PM)interface 360, the universal subscriber identity module (USIM) interface300, the camera interface 288, the pulse code modulation (PCM) interface362, the video codec 264, the second display interface 262, thecoprocessor interface 364, the WLAN interface 366, the Bluetoothinterface 368, the FM interface 370, the GPS interface 372, and the TVinterface 374.

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an IC 52,130, and/or 150 that includes one or more RF sections 190, 224, 314,and/or 316, a first processing module 380, a second processing module382, a third processing module 384, the microphone interface 132, thespeaker interface 144, and the display interface 262. The firstprocessing module 382 may include one or more baseband sections 180,182, 184, 226, 228, 318, and/or 320. The first, second, and thirdprocessing modules may be each be a single processing device or aplurality of processing devices. Such a processing device may be amicroprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor,microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array,programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analogcircuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals(analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of the circuitry and/oroperational instructions. The processing module may have an associatedmemory and/or memory element, which may be a single memory device, aplurality of memory devices, and/or embedded circuitry of the processingmodule. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random accessmemory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamicmemory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that storesdigital information. Note that when the processing module implements oneor more of its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory and/or memory elementstoring the corresponding operational instructions may be embeddedwithin, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Furthernote that, the memory element stores, and the processing moduleexecutes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to atleast some of the steps and/or functions illustrated in FIGS. 1-14. Inan embodiment, the first processing module 380 is a digital signalprocessor (DSP), the second processing module is a first type ofmicroprocessor (e.g., ARMv5), and the third processing module 384 may bea second type of microprocessor (e.g., ARMv6 or ARMv7). In such anembodiment, the second type of microprocessor is faster and consumesmore power than the second type of microprocessor.

In general, the first processing module 380 (e.g., a DSP) performs thephysical layer of a communication protocol stack and the audio and/orvideo codec function for the IC; the second processing module 382performs the remainder of the communication protocol stack; and thethird processing module 384 performs the operating system and userapplications. In an embodiment, the third processing module 384 may be ahigh speed processor and a high power consumption processor with respectto the second processing module 382 such that, once the third processingmodule 384 establishes a wireless communication, it can be shut off andthe second processing module 382 processes the wireless communicationwithout the third processing module 384. In this instance, powerconsumption is reduced by shutting off the third processing module orplacing it in a sleep mode.

In an embodiment, the RF section converts an outbound symbol stream intoan outbound RF signal and converts an inbound RF signal into an inboundsymbol stream. The digital signal processor converts outbound data intothe outbound symbol stream and converts the inbound symbol stream intoinbound data in accordance with a physical layer of a wirelesscommunication protocol (e.g., EDGE, GSM, GPRS, WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA, IEEE802.11, Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc.). In addition, the digital signalprocessor may convert an outbound analog audio signal into an outbounddigital audio signal and may convert an inbound digital audio signalinto an inbound analog audio signal.

The second processing module 382 converts the inbound data into aninbound signal and converts an outbound signal into the outbound data inaccordance with upper layers of the wireless communication protocol.Note that the inbound data ma include an inbound digital video signal,an inbound digital image signal, an inbound digital text signal, aninbound digital graphics signal, and the inbound digital audio signaland the outbound signal may include an outbound digital audio signal, anoutbound digital video signal, an outbound digital image signal, anoutbound digital text signal, and/or an outbound digital graphicssignal.

The third processing module 384 performs one or more user applicationsthat processing (e.g., generate, modify, utilize, convert, store,update, etc.) the inbound signal and/or the outbound signal. Such a userapplication may be a digital image capture algorithm, a digital imagedisplay algorithm, a video capture algorithm, a video display algorithm,a voice compression algorithm, a voice decompression algorithm, an audiocapture algorithm, an audio playback algorithm, a web browser algorithm,an email algorithm, a text message algorithm, and/or a cellulartelephony algorithm.

In addition, the third processing module 384 performs an operatingsystem algorithm to manage the hardware and software resources ofwireless communication device. In general, the operating system controlsallocation of memory, manage processes (e.g., coordinates operation ofthe one or more user applications), prioritizing system requests,controls input and output devices, facilitates networking and managingfile systems, and security functions. In addition, the operating systemincludes a user interface application (e.g., a graphical user interface)for ease of operation.

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an IC 52,130, and/or 150 that includes one or more RF sections 190, 224, 314,and/or 316, an interface module 186, 222, and/or 312, the firstprocessing module 380, the second processing module 382, the thirdprocessing module 384, the microphone interface 132, the speakerinterface 144, and the display interface 262. The first processingmodule 380 may include one or more baseband sections 180, 182, 184, 226,228, 318, and/or 320, an audio codec 386, and may further include avideo codec 264. The second processing module 382 is configured toprovide a data link layer module 390, a network layer module 392, atransport layer module 394, a session layer module 396, a presentationlayer module 398, and an application layer module 400. The thirdprocessing module 384 functions as previously described.

As an example, assume that the IC 52, 130, and/or 150 is programmed fora GSM voice wireless communication. In this example, the thirdprocessing module 384 would initiate the GSM voice communication and,once initiated, the third processing module 384 would be disabled and/orplaced in a low power state. For outgoing voice communications, themicrophone interface 132 would receive an analog audio signal from amicrophone, amplify and/or filter the signal and provide the amplifiedand/or filtered signal to the audio codec 386. The audio codec 386 wouldconvert the analog signal into a digital signal.

The second processing module 382, via the upper layers of thecommunication protocol stack 380-400, converts the digital signal intooutbound data. The baseband section converts the outbound data into anoutbound symbol stream in accordance with a corresponding GSM standard.The interface provides the outbound symbol stream to the RF section,which converts the outbound symbol stream into an outbound RF signal.

For incoming communications, the RF section converts an inbound RFsignal into an inbound symbol stream in accordance with the GSMstandard. The baseband section converts the inbound symbol stream intoinbound data in accordance with the GSM standard. The second processingmodule 382, via the upper layers of the communication stack, convertsthe inbound data into an inbound digital signal. The audio codec 386converts the inbound digital signal into an analog signal, which isprovided to the speaker interface 144. The speaker interface 144amplifies and/or filters the analog signal and provides the amplifiedand/or filtered signal to one or more speakers.

FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an IC 52,130, and/or 150 that includes a plurality of RF sections 190, 224, 314,and/or 316, a plurality of first processing modules 380, a plurality ofsecond processing modules 382, and a third processing module 384. Ingeneral, a first processing module 380 performs the physical layer of acommunication protocol stack of a corresponding wireless communicationprotocol and may further perform the audio and/or video codec functionfor the IC. A second processing module 382 performs the remainder of thecommunication protocol stack of the corresponding wireless communicationprotocol. The third processing module 384 performs the operating systemand one or more user applications. In such an embodiment, the thirdprocessing module 384 may be a high speed processor and a high powerconsumption processor with respect to the second processing module 382such that, once the third processing module 384 establishes a wirelesscommunication, it can be shut off or placed in a low power mode and oneor more of the second processing modules 382 processes the wirelesscommunication without the third processing module 384. For instance, thesecond processing modules 382 may be within a first power section 422and the third processing module 384 may be in a second power section420, where the second power section 420 is disabled (e.g., powerremoved) such that the third processing module 384 is disabled.

In an embodiment, each of the plurality of RF sections converts anoutbound symbol stream into an outbound RF signal and converts aninbound RF signal into an inbound symbol stream in accordance with acorresponding wireless communication protocol. Each of the plurality ofbaseband sections converts outbound data into the outbound symbol streamfor a corresponding one of the RF sections and converts the inboundsymbol stream from the corresponding one of the RF sections into inbounddata. In addition, each of the first processing modules converts anoutbound analog audio signal into an outbound digital audio signal andconverts an inbound digital audio signal into an inbound analog audiosignal

Each of the plurality of second processing modules is coupled to acorresponding one of the plurality of first processing modules and iscoupled to convert the inbound data into the inbound digital audiosignal in accordance with the corresponding wireless communicationprotocol and convert the outbound digital audio signal into the outbounddata in accordance with the corresponding wireless communicationprotocol.

The third processing module performs a user application that includes atleast one of generation of the inbound analog audio signal andgeneration of the outbound analog audio signal. In addition, thesecond-type processor performs an operating system algorithm tocoordinate operation of the user application. In an embodiment, each ofthe plurality of first-type of processors have a first operating speedand a first power consumption and the second-type processor has a secondoperating speed and a second power consumption, wherein the secondoperating speed is greater than the first operating speed and the secondpower consumption is greater than the first power consumption.

In another embodiment, a first RF section of the plurality of RFsections convert a first outbound symbol stream into a first outbound RFsignal in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol (e.g.,GSM, EDGE, GPRS, etc.) and converts a first inbound RF signal into afirst inbound symbol stream in accordance with the first wirelesscommunication protocol. In addition, a second RF section of theplurality of RF sections converts a second outbound symbol stream into asecond outbound RF signal in accordance with a second wirelesscommunication protocol (e.g., WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA, etc.) and converts asecond inbound RF signal into a second inbound symbol stream inaccordance with the second wireless communication protocol.

A first one of the plurality of first processing modules converts firstoutbound data into the first outbound symbol stream in accordance withthe first wireless communication protocol and converts the first inboundsymbol stream into first inbound data in accordance with the firstwireless communication protocol. The first one of the plurality of firstprocessing modules may perform the conversions in accordance with aphysical layer of a first communication stack of the first wirelesscommunication protocol. A second one of the plurality of firstprocessing modules converts second outbound data into the secondoutbound symbol stream in accordance with the second wirelesscommunication protocol and converts the second inbound symbol streaminto second inbound data in accordance with the second wirelesscommunication protocol. The second one of the plurality of firstprocessing modules may perform the conversions in accordance with aphysical layer of a second communication stack of the second wirelesscommunication protocol.

A first one of the plurality of second processing modules converts thefirst inbound data into a first inbound signal and converts a firstoutbound signal into the first outbound data. This may be done inaccordance with remaining layers of the first communication stack. Asecond one of the plurality of second processing modules converts thesecond inbound data into a second inbound signal and converts a secondoutbound signal into the second outbound data. This may be done inaccordance with remaining layers of the second communication stack.

The third processing module performs a first user application thatprocesses at least one the first inbound signal and the first outboundsignal. In addition, the third processing module 384 performs a seconduser application that processes at least one the second inbound signaland the second outbound signal. Still further, the third processingmodule 384 performs an operating system algorithm to coordinateoperation of the user application.

From embodiment to embodiment as discussed above, an IC included certainfeatures and/or components. It should be noted that an IC may includeany combination of components of the embodiments illustrated in thepreceding figures and/or may further include conventional components ofwireless communication ICs. Further embodiments and/or combination ofembodiments are disclosed in co-pending patent application entitledVOICE/DATA/RF INTEGRATED CIRCUIT, having a filing date of Dec. 19, 2006,and a Ser. No. of 11/641,999 and of co-pending patent applicationentitled VOICE DATA RF WIRELESS NETWORK IC, having a filing date of Feb.26, 2007, and a Ser. No. of 11/711,126, both of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding termand/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted toleranceranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to,but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit processvariations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermalnoise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a fewpercent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, theterm(s) “coupled to” and/or “coupling” and/or includes direct couplingbetween items and/or indirect coupling between items via an interveningitem (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, anelement, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for indirect coupling, theintervening item does not modify the information of a signal but mayadjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As mayfurther be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element iscoupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirectcoupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”. As mayeven further be used herein, the term “operable to” indicates that anitem includes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s),etc., to perform one or more its corresponding functions and may furtherinclude inferred coupling to one or more other items. As may stillfurther be used herein, the term “associated with”, includes directand/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item beingembedded within another item. As may be used herein, the term “comparesfavorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items,signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when thedesired relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude thansignal 2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude ofsignal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude ofsignal 2 is less than that of signal 1.

The present invention has also been described above with the aid ofmethod steps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

The present invention has been described above with the aid offunctional building blocks illustrating the performance of certainsignificant functions. The boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description.Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significantfunctions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocksmay also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certainsignificant functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram blockboundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and stillperform the certain significant functionality. Such alternatedefinitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocksand sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimedinvention. One of average skill in the art will also recognize that thefunctional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules andcomponents herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discretecomponents, application specific integrated circuits, processorsexecuting appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

1. An integrated circuit (IC) comprises: a radio frequency (RF) sectioncoupled to: convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound RFsignal; and convert an inbound RF signal into an inbound symbol stream;and a first processing module coupled to: convert outbound data into theoutbound symbol stream and convert the inbound symbol stream intoinbound data in accordance with a physical layer of a communicationstack of a wireless communication protocol; and a second processingmodule coupled to: convert the inbound data into an inbound signal andconvert an outbound signal into the outbound data in accordance withremaining layers of the communication stack; and a third processingmodule coupled to: perform at least one user application that processesat least one of the inbound signal and the outbound signal; perform anoperating system algorithm to coordinate the operation of the at leastone user application; and wherein the third processing module is placedin a low power mode after a wireless communication is establishedpursuant to the wireless communication protocol.
 2. The IC of claim 1comprises: the inbound signal including at least one of an inbounddigital video signal, an inbound digital image signal, an inbounddigital text signal, an inbound digital graphics signal, and the inbounddigital audio signal; and the outbound signal including at least one ofthe outbound digital audio signal, an outbound digital video signal, anoutbound digital image signal, an outbound digital text signal, and anoutbound digital graphics signal.
 3. The IC of claim 2, wherein the atleast one user application comprises at least one of: a digital imagecapture algorithm; a digital image display algorithm; a video capturealgorithm; a video display algorithm; a voice compression algorithm; avoice decompression algorithm; an audio capture algorithm; an audioplayback algorithm; a web browser algorithm; an email algorithm; a textmessage algorithm; and a cellular telephony algorithm.
 4. The IC ofclaim 1, wherein the third processing module further functions to:perform a plurality of user applications; and perform the operatingsystem algorithm to coordinate operation of the plurality of userapplications.
 5. The IC of claim 1, wherein the first processing modulefurther functions to: convert an outbound analog audio signal into atleast a portion of the outbound signal; and convert at least a portionof the inbound signal into an inbound analog audio signal.
 6. Anintegrated circuit (IC) comprises: a plurality of radio frequency (RF)sections, wherein an RF section of the plurality of RF sections iscoupled to: convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound RFsignal; and convert an inbound RF signal into an inbound symbol stream;and a plurality of first processing modules, wherein a first processingmodule of the plurality of first processing modules is coupled to:convert outbound data into the outbound symbol stream; and convert theinbound symbol stream into inbound data; and a plurality of secondprocessing modules, wherein a second processing module of the pluralityof second processing modules has a first operating speed and a firstpower consumption and is coupled to: convert the inbound data into aninbound signal; and convert an outbound signal into the outbound data;and a third processing module having a second operating speed and asecond power consumption, wherein the second operating speed is greaterthan the first operating speed and the second power consumption isgreater than the first power consumption, the third processing modulecoupled to: perform at least one user application that processes atleast one of the inbound signal and the outbound signal; and perform anoperating system algorithm to coordinate operation of the userapplication.
 7. The IC of claim 6 further comprises: at least one firstpower section to power at least one of the plurality of secondprocessing modules; and a second power section to power the thirdprocessing module, wherein the second power section is gated on and offas the third processing module is needed and not needed.
 8. The IC ofclaim 6 comprises: the inbound signal including at least one of aninbound digital video signal, an inbound digital image signal, aninbound digital text signal, an inbound digital graphics signal, and aninbound digital audio signal; and the outbound signal including at leastone of an outbound digital audio signal, an outbound digital videosignal, an outbound digital image signal, an outbound digital textsignal, and an outbound digital graphics signal.
 9. The IC of claim 8,wherein the at least one user application comprises at least one of: adigital image capture algorithm; a digital image display algorithm; avideo capture algorithm; a video display algorithm; a voice compressionalgorithm; a voice decompression algorithm; an audio capture algorithm;an audio playback algorithm; a web browser algorithm; an emailalgorithm; a text message algorithm; and a cellular telephony algorithm.10. The IC of claim 6, wherein the first processing module furtherfunctions to: convert an outbound analog audio signal into at least aportion of the outbound signal; and convert at least a portion of theinbound signal into an inbound analog audio signal.
 11. The IC of claim6 comprises: a first RF section of the plurality of RF sections coupledto: convert a first outbound symbol stream into a first outbound RFsignal in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol; andconvert a first inbound RF signal into a first inbound symbol stream inaccordance with the first wireless communication protocol; and a secondRF section of the plurality of RF sections coupled to: convert a secondoutbound symbol stream into a second outbound RF signal in accordancewith a second wireless communication protocol; and convert a secondinbound RF signal into a second inbound symbol stream in accordance withthe second wireless communication protocol; and a first processingmodule of the plurality of first processing modules coupled to: convertfirst outbound data into the first outbound symbol stream in accordancewith the first wireless communication protocol; and convert the firstinbound symbol stream into first inbound data in accordance with thefirst wireless communication protocol; and another first processingmodule of the plurality of first processing modules coupled to: convertsecond outbound data into the second outbound symbol stream inaccordance with the second wireless communication protocol; and convertthe second inbound symbol stream into second inbound data in accordancewith the second wireless communication protocol; and a second processingmodule of the plurality of second processing modules coupled to: convertthe first inbound data into a first inbound signal; and convert a firstoutbound signal into the first outbound data; and another secondprocessing module of the plurality of second processing modules coupledto: convert the second inbound data into a second inbound signal; andconvert a second outbound signal into the second outbound data; and thethird processing module coupled to: perform a first user applicationthat processes at least one of the first inbound signal and the firstoutbound signal; perform a second user application that processes atleast one of the second inbound signal and the second outbound signal;and perform an operating system algorithm to coordinate operation of theuser application.
 12. The IC of claim 11 comprises: the first processingmodule converting the first outbound data into the first outbound symbolstream and converting the first inbound symbol stream into first inbounddata in accordance with a physical layer of a first communication stackof the first wireless communication protocol; the another firstprocessing module converting the second outbound data into the secondoutbound symbol stream and converting the second inbound symbol streaminto second inbound data in accordance with a physical layer of a secondcommunication stack of the second wireless communication protocol; thesecond processing module converting the first inbound data into thefirst inbound signal and converting the first outbound signal into thefirst outbound data in accordance with remaining layers of the firstcommunication stack; and the another second processing module convertingthe second inbound data into the second inbound signal and convertingthe second outbound signal into the second outbound data in accordancewith remaining layers of the second communication stack.
 13. Anintegrated circuit (IC) comprises: a radio frequency (RF) sectioncoupled to: convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound RFsignal; and convert an inbound RF signal into an inbound symbol stream;and a digital signal processor coupled to: convert outbound data intothe outbound symbol stream and convert the inbound symbol stream intoinbound data in accordance with a physical layer of a communicationstack of a wireless communication protocol; convert an outbound analogaudio signal into an outbound digital audio signal; and convert aninbound digital audio signal into an inbound analog audio signal; and afirst processor coupled to: convert the inbound data into the inbounddigital audio signal and the outbound digital audio signal into theoutbound data in accordance with remaining layers of the communicationstack; and a second processor being placed in a low power mode after awireless communication is established pursuant to the wirelesscommunication protocol, the second processor coupled to: perform a userapplication that includes at least one of generation of the inboundanalog audio signal and generation of the outbound analog audio signal;and perform an operating system algorithm to coordinate operation of theuser application.
 14. The IC of claim 13, wherein the first processorfurther functions to: convert the inbound data into at least one of aninbound digital video signal, an inbound digital image signal, aninbound digital text signal, an inbound digital graphics signal, and theinbound digital audio signal; and convert at least one of the outbounddigital audio signal, an outbound digital video signal, an outbounddigital image signal, an outbound digital text signal, and an outbounddigital graphics signal into the outbound data.
 15. The IC of claim 13,wherein the second processor further functions to: perform a pluralityof user applications; and perform the operating system algorithm tocoordinate operation of the plurality of user applications.